October 31, 2017. Wed meet twice a year, in all sorts of countries. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. DynoSafe Net Worth, Founder, Shark Tank Deal, Current Status (Updated), Tavon Austin Net Worth, Biography, Wiki, Career (Updated), Jose Torres El Ray De Alto Mando Net Worth, Biography, Wiki, YouTube Channel (Updated), Ashley Almanza Net Worth, Biography, Wiki, Career (Updated), Ashley Snowden Net Worth, Biography, Wiki, Career (Updated), Balenciaga Net Worth, History, Founder, Current Status (Updated), Hermes Net Worth, History, Clients, Growth (Updated). People used to take their corn to this mill to have it ground. As a CEO, Bowles is regularly ranked among the . Then, 72 years of her life went by in the same Fort Mill home. Between her indomitable spirit, her sense of humor and a fatalism born of deep religious faith, the irony of being felled by a branch while sitting on a bench outside her home of 95 years was not lost on her. Published by Charlotte Observer on Aug. 22, 2021. Over the course of her crowded life, Baggs traveled to more than 60 countries, including Swaziland, Bhutan, Mongolia, Iran, Mali and Yemen, which she nominated as probably the most exotic. Every summer, she took her population-exploding brood of grandchildren and great-grandchildren to Switzerland on hiking trips; as well as on horse pack trips on Sheep Mountain in Washington State, which she called My favorite place in the world., She went to Africa many times. Instead of flowers, the family requested donations to the greenway. View Details. Anne Close's brother, Leroy "Sonny" Springs, had died in an airplane crash in 1946 at the age of 22. . The cause of death was injuries from a falling tree. After graduation in 1917, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps aviation section. She is more likely to be remembered, in Fort Mill and beyond, as the founder and creator of the Anne Springs Close Greenway, the 2,100-acre nature conservancy in Fort Mill. She and her son Buck made a number of visits to Haiti, where she supported a group of nuns who called her affectionately La Reinethe Queen. Forbes Lists #211. Anne Springs Close, who died Friday at 95, was the surviving matriarch of a family dynasty that has shaped South Carolina for 130 years. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. So, it took five years to get it ready to open. Mostly, she was a loving, caring and giving mother, neighbor, and friend. Together and with others, they developed a far-sighted land-use plan, placing 2,100 acres of family-owned land in a conservancy, while retaining 4,000 acres for development. Box 1209, Fort Mill, SC 29716. www.ascgreenway.org A memorial service will be held at the Comporium Amphitheatre on the Anne Springs Close Greenway Sunday, August 22nd at 2 pm. Category: Richest Celebrities Actors. Anne Serling will present a slice of midcentury culture at Modernism Week by paying homage to her father, Rod, who hosted the legendary TV show in the early 1960s. She even taught me some of my first words like Bi-color lespedeza, a long lost crop her father Col. Elliot White Springs planted for bobwhite quail. She is also the mother of 8 children, a grandmother of 28 children and a great-grandmother of 20 children. 1970. Categories Entrepreneur Leave a comment. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Anne Springs attended public school in Fort Mill and continued her education at Ashley Hall in Charleston and Chatham Hall, graduating in 1943. When my daughter graduated from college, I gave her a trip, and she went and did it. When the last of her eight children left home for college, Mrs. Close was appointed to the board of Wofford College, in Spartanburg, SC. Then I went on the board of the National Recreation Association, which is a big board, 65 people. She is more likely to be remembered, in Fort Mill and beyond, as the founder and creator of the Anne Springs Close Greenway, the 2,100-acre nature conservancy in Fort Mill. The Dairy Barn, located on the sprawling 2,100-acre Anne Springs Close Greenway, is a uniquely rustic venue featuring an expansive upstairs loft with original hardwood flooring and rafters, a wood paneled lower level assembly space and milk parlor lined with windows, a spacious bridal suite and groom's quarters, and a 40"x 60"paved outdoor . That was crazy, she recalled. HOVER TO REVEAL NET WORTH BY YEAR. %privacy_policy%. It indicates a way to close . Meet the 15 richest American family 'dynasties,' who have a combined net worth of $618 billion. Discover What Makes the Greenway So Special, Acres of Nature Space Protected, Maintained and Restored. Wife of Hugh William Close, Jr. Our approximately 6,000 employees are driven by a commitment to continually find ways to do a better job in developing our products, improving our manufacturing processes and managing natural resources responsibly. Close, as my dad insisted we called her, was different than her usual nickname Baggs which her family and close friends children often called her. The combined contributions allowed the food bank to feed hundreds of people in York, Lancaster and Chester counties, where so many good people who work with us in our family textile mills live. Anne Springs Close Greenway. I was blessed to have been born at a time when Ms. Close began chasing her passion and love for horses and nature on her family land that would one day become the Anne Springs Close Greenway. Ben Hockett Net Worth, Biography, Wiki (Updated) She was 95. Some friends showed up "under the clock at the Biltmore Hotel" a well-known meeting-place--with several U.S. Navy officers in tow. He was killed on Mother's Day 1946 in a flying accident. That killed me." In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gift be made to the Anne Springs Close Greenway, P.O. 2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill SC 29715, Annual Report | Contact | Employment | Terms & Conditions. Close out of respect. Mrs. Close, called "Baggs" by her family and friends, was born in Charlotte on November 15, 1925, to Elliott White Springs and Frances Ley Springs of Fort Mill, South Carolina. But her most challenging ascent, she said, was New Hampshires Mt. She attended Smith College in Massachusetts and has a resume brimming with environmental and philanthropic accomplishments. Close's family says she died . Two prospering local communities, Baxter and Kingsley, are the result of that planning. Bianco Net Worth 2022, Age, Height, Relationships, Married, Dating, Family, Wiki Biography Tom Ford Chad C. The document was filed with the Riverside. He was a deep chestnut red with a thick mane and tail. We did it the other way around. Blindness proved no impediment to her reading. He died in 1983. The Anne Springs Close Greenway is located in Fort Mill providing natural open spaces and 34 miles of hiking, biking and . The land trust has strict guidelines as to what can and cant be done, so Iknow it will always be undeveloped. She is survived by her eight children: Crandall Close Bowles, of Charlotte, NC; Frances Allison Close, of Columbia, SC; Leroy Springs Close, of New Orleans, LA; Patricia Grace Close, of Leavenworth, WA; Elliott Springs Close, of Fort Mill, SC; Hugh William Close, of Fort Mill, SC; Derick Springsteen Close, of Charlotte, NC; and Katherine Anne Close, of Pawleys Island, SC; 28 grandchildren and 24.5 great-grandchildren. He met his future wife Frances, of Springfield, Massachusetts, aboard an ocean liner during an Atlantic crossing. With wife Anne, Bass has given at least $70 million to Duke and $55 million to Stanford. 'Lintheads' is what they called people who worked in the mills. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gift be made to the Anne Springs Close Greenway, P.O. My desire to conserve the land grew over time as I watched area farms get swallowed up by development and disappear, said Close. Ms. Close insisted and made me go on a long hike to the top of a very tall mountain. On V-E Day (Victory in Europe, May 8, 1945), she and classmates traveled to New York City from Northampton to join in the celebrations. In April 1887 White called a meeting of 13 men and 2 women to organizea cotton mill in Fort Mill. That killed me.. And I got a couple of national awards, which were nice." She added that "it took several years to get that done. The Springs' daughter, Anne Springs Close, was also a passenger during that voyage, prior to the ship's last journey when it caught fire in New Jersey in 1937. In the 1980's, concerned by the encroaching urban sprawl of Charlotte, she reached out to Patrick Noonan, founder of The Nature Conservancy, and to Chuck Flink, a leading planner of greenways. Explanations of our brand and our businesses, and guidelines for the Domtar identity. In the 1980s, concerned by the encroaching urban sprawl of Charlotte, she reached out to Patrick Noonan, founder of The Nature Conservancy, and to Chuck Flink, a leading planner of greenways. It has grown to include the management of various recreational venues across the state and even in North Carolina, most of which were established by Springs Mills for its . Derick Springsteen Close credits the success of the Carolina Panthers - and his initial investment in the team as a limited partner - to the community. His ship, the U.S.S. A tragedy struck in 2014, while hiking in Adelboden, Switzerland with her great family friend, Susan McCrae, and others. She was always encouraging others, no matter what age, to get outdoors, be active and enjoy nature. "That's one of the things we've been cited for," Mrs. Close recalled, "Most developers build first, and if there's anything left over, they would make a green space. The food bank contacted me because I was an active volunteer. Daughterof Colonial Elliott White Springsand Frances Hubbard Ley Springs. Struggle Jennings was destined to be an Outlaw. Hugo went right over it. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Whether youre tearing it up on our mountain bike course, tackling a 5K/10K trail race and hike courses, enjoying our kids scavenger hunt, or just jamming with live music and local craft beers we have something for you! Ms. There are countless ways to enjoy nature at the Greenway! Springs also served in World War II joining the US Army Corps in 1941 and attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1942 as the Executive officer, Charlotte Air Base at Morris Field. Ride a horse, or try some yoga with a goat. Richard I. H. Belser, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Chapel, performed . So sorry for the loss of your Mom. "They gave her a 'Heil Hitler,' but we did not 'Heil' back." Comporium Amphitheatre on the Anne Springs Close Greenway. I remember Ms. Anne with fondness and great respect. Please join us to mourn the passing of Anne Springs Close. Elise and her husband married in New York on 23 August 2013. insiders at JPMorgan Chase & Co have traded over $134,181,335 worth of JPMorgan Chase & Co stock and bought 235,635 units worth $24,569,146 . My friend said, Just pick one, Mrs. Close recalled in an interview, So I said, Ill take him. She and him Lieutenant Hugh William Close, of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania married a year later. My heart goes out to her family, her beloved communities, and all employees of LSC. She will always be remembered as an amazing woman who had an incredible enthusiasm for living, says Jan Martin, Senior Manager of Public Affairs and Communications for Domtar and board member of the Anne Springs Close Greenway. Families provided assistance this year through recreation and education scholarships, Help Keep the Greenway Beautiful and Accessible to All. Hugo went right over it. Courtesy of Sarah Cavanaugh. Elliott White Springs was born on 31 July, 1896, at Lancaster, South Carolina, the son of Leroy (1861-1931) and Grace Allison White Springs. She always brought light to every room entered. She liked it so much she changed her major in college to special education and is now a special education teacher. Among her notable accomplishments is the creation of the Anne Springs Close Greenway. Most people would have developed this huge tract of land. Who was Anne Springs Close? 1925 -2021. Susan suddenly died of a heart attack, leaving Mrs. Close alone on the mountain. Mrs. Close, called Baggs by her family and friends, was born in Charlotte on November 15, 1925, to Elliott White Springs and Frances Ley Springs of Fort Mill, South Carolina. It was reported on the greenways website that she passed away Aug. 20, just a few days after being struck by a falling tree branch with her daughter, Gracie Close. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. She was 95. Now two NC men face prison. Ms. Born in Fort Mill, South Carolina, her birth name was Anne Springs. And by this time, the greenway was brown. She continued to go on bicycle trips and horse pack trips. To understand Ms. Close at her core was to know her heart, her soul and her spirit. She enriched us all. She was educated at Ashley Hall in Charleston, as well as Chatham Hall in Virginia, and then at Smith College in Massachusetts. According to estimates, Anne Springs Close's net worth is around $10 million. Sponsored by. She attended Smith College, where she studied physics. In 1936, he cabled her mother permission to return to the U.S. from Europe aboard the Hindenburg, on the grounds that it was perfectly safe.. Her Age, Net Worth, Family & Facts. She was predeceased by her husband, Bill Close, her brother Sonny Springs and her daughter, Monnie McKee Reed. As a young child, Anne Springs Close often heard the statement: Its a sin to be indoors on a sunny day. Today, at the age of 91,Close continues tofollow thatguiding principle, which was an early inspiration for her lifes work. Born in Fort Mill, South Carolina, her birth name was Anne Springs. Kick-start spring with a recreation celebration! Once, she held the position of chair. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. "Ms. Close has left an indelible sustainability imprint on our community with her efforts to preserve nature and educate people about conservation. He was killed on Mothers Day 1946 in a flying accident. That tragedy left Anne the sole heir to her fathers considerable fortune. Mrs. Close may also have inherited her sense of adventure from her father. The company was formed to issue interest-free scholarships to students in need. But blindness, for her, proved merely a nuisance, rather than a handicap, as her late-life mountaineering attests. She made time for people. Explore the Domtar Newsroom and Domtar.com to learn more about our company. At the hospital, she remarked with characteristic wryness, "I saved one too many trees." 104 Adventure Rd, Fort Mill. Close's family said she was the last living person to have flown across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the German airship Hindenburg. As a child, we would ride our bikes there to swim, and today its one of the most popular spots with kids. Its the reason Fort Mill was started andnamed Fort Mill. The world is truly less without the presence of Mrs. Close- less interesting, less courageous, less ethical, just less in so many ways. Other activities they have is kayaking and camping. Daughter of Colonial Elliott White Springs and Frances Hubbard Ley Springs. But her most challenging ascent, she said, was New Hampshire's Mt. My mom recently remembered that once I was old enough to sit up, she passed me up to this special lady astride a beautiful Arabian horse. More information to come regarding Springs Close Family. As the largest and most successful farmer in Fort Mill Township, he became a leading advocate of crop rotation to preserve the soil, and reduced cotton acreage to avoid the chronic problem of over-production, which depressed prices. She and her trusted companion, Kenny Walker, spent countless hours listening to audio books while driving thousands of miles. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. But you may need a reservation or . We mourn you, Anne Springs Close. Image is copyrighted. Anne's brother Leroy, called "Sonny," served in World War II in the Army Air Corps. Springs trained with the Royal Flying Corps at Oxford University, and by age 22, was the squadron commander attaining the rank of top sergeant serving with 85th Squadron. Anne Springs Close sits over Steele Creek on a suspended bridge at her Anne Springs Close Greenway just north of Fort Mill, S.C., off of U.S. Route 21 bypass on April 20, 1995. There are three routes up the mountain, and Ive done all three. . Hike and Dog Park trails are currently open. Though Schwarzman lives in New York City . At 92, she made her final pack trip with her "hero," Claude Miller, and her "other children," Daniel Knox and Mary Gin Barron. We love you. These activities keep me healthy, and if you dont keep it up, youll lose your ability to keep going. She was predeceased by her husband, Bill Close, her brother Sonny Springs and her daughter, Monnie McKee Reed. Though our words can do little, we hope our thoughts and prayers will encourage you this period and always as you mourn, the passing soul. (803) 547-4575. I was the first woman board member, she remembered, and I ended up being the chair for a couple of years. We are honored and privileged to have partnered with . They had such a good time getting on the horses and getting out in the woods. Anne Springs Close passed away at her home in Fort Mill, S.C. on Aug. 20, 2021, at the age of 95. She could cook a great pot of chili, and loved to bake cookies.Anne Springs Close dedicated herself to improving the quality of life for the people in the community in which she lives and the surrounding area. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. Skipping stones across a lake at sunrise. Lintheads is what they called people who worked in the mills. Washington, when she was 88. Our beloved Anne Springs Close died after suffering a severe injury from a falling tree limb near her residence. Her morning traffic reports on WFAN and WINS are pure New York: blunt, cynical and. FORT MILL, S.C. (WBTV) - Anne Springs Close, the founder and namesake of the popular greenway in York County, S.C., has died. Elliott Springs was a highly decorated aviator in World War I, credited with 11 kills. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. She was 95. Tom Ford May 28, 2019. She started a riding program for people with special needs on her beloved land. Colonel Springs held a strong belief that his family had an obligation to care for and support the . A post shared by Reality Replay (@90dayfiancenews) on Nov 17, 2019 at 5:00pm PST. Many years ago, Close contributed to the creation of the Close Scholars program at Winthrop University, providing financial assistance to community service students. Approximately 2,100 acres make up the greenway, which is twice as big as Central Park. In the 1980s, as growth from Charlotte, North Carolina, spilled toward Fort Mill, Close joined with The Nature Conservancy and set aside 2,100 acres (850 hectares) of her family's land to be a greenway. Authorities said Anne Close returned . Colonel Springs was a World War I flying ace and author and succeeded his father, Leroy Springs, as the head of what eventually became Springs Industries. They told him, 'You're wasting your time.' \r\rSprings Close reportedly passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by family. The name she gave the pup is apropos. William and Sarah raised six sons and three daughters at the Homestead before movingto Charlotte, North Carolina, to liveacross the street from their daughter Martha and her husband William Fulenwider Phifer. So when he sold his ownership stake, he and his family were committed to supporting local nonprofits serving those in need . You can directly shop your flowers on Amazon. We also have a wonderful program that gives some college students tuition, which they work off through volunteer work. Her heart loved all people, rich or poor, of any color, of any background. She told me, So you can bring your grandchildren here one day.. We signed all the legal papers by candlelight, because it was three weeks after [Hurricane] Hugo and we didn't have electricity. In 1989, we had the documents drawn to preserve the land. Please accept my deepest sympathies as you continue your lives without your dear mother. Crandall's mailing address filed with the SEC is , , , , . So, we started doing therapeutic recreation. Susan suddenly died of a heart attack, leaving Mrs. Close alone on the mountain. Dr. Daniel Knox is a lifelong friend of philanthropist Anne Springs Close, who passed away at age 95 on August 20, 2021. Kayak, paddle board or fish in one of our lakes and ponds. We were like a circle of children listening intently to this great adventurer. Her giving wasnt limited to finances. The Fort Mill resident was . Greenway." I was scared to death, but I did it, and I became chairman. On Monday, Aug. 16, Close, the Anne Springs Close Greenway founder and namesake, and her daughter Gracie Close, of Leavenworth, Virginia, were struck by a falling limb from a pecan tree near the home. Her spirit, like the sunlight, was everywhere, but somehow she seemed to always have the time for the individual. Anne Springs Close November 15, 1925 - August 20, 2021 Fort Mill, South Carolina - Anne Springs Close, a noted conservationist, philanthropist, and the last living person to have flown across the Atlantic aboard the German airship Hindenburg, died on Friday, August 20th Fort Mill, SC, in her home of 72 years, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After recovering from wounds received in action on 27 June 1918, he was reassigned to the USAS's 148th Aero Squadron in France under the operational control of the RAF. She took me on many horseback pack trips all over the country, from Wyomings Wind River Range to Montanas Bob Marshall Wilderness to the San Juans of Colorado, but mostly to the North Cascades in Washington States Pasayten Wilderness to her favorite Sheep Mountain. It has grown over the years, and I love the program and love all the volunteers. . She may have been delivering Meals on Wheels or in a boardroom meeting. Ms. Closes heart was as big as the mountains she climbed like Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Washington and her beloved Sheep Mountain in Washington state. Over the course of her crowded life, "Baggs" traveled to more than 60 countries, including Swaziland, Bhutan, Mongolia, Iran, Mali and Yemen, which she nominated as "probably the most exotic." Bill eventually took over the family business, which now included not only the mills but also a bank, railroad, newspaper and insurance company. Looking at those little glass cell phone boxes is not enough. Both women sustained serious injuries and were being treated at Carolinas Medical Center-Main in Charlotte. Anne was - one of a kind! The Springs Close Foundation, Inc. was established in 1942 by Colonel Elliott White Springs. You could get a membership for $4 a week. And I got a couple of national awards, which were nice.. Dave Mortach Net Worth How Much Retirement Expert Earns. As stated on the greenways website, Charlottes urban sprawl concerned Close. She was firmly attached to her hearts goal of land preservation, especially the woods and fields she called home. Anne Springs Close, November 15, 1925 August 20, 2021, The Anne Springs Close Greenway Launches The Cardinal Society, Even Your Good Dog Should Be Leashed at the Anne Springs Close Greenway, The Anne Springs Close Greenway Hosts Wedding Show, Impact of Prescribed Burns at Anne Springs Close Greenway, Springmaid Trail Race Returns to Anne Springs Close Greenway. Copyright Springs Close Family Archives. He built a golf course. I hope to inspire people to do their part to help conserve our Earth. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. On V-E Day (Victory in Europe, May 8, 1945), she and classmates traveled to New York City from Northampton to join in the celebrations. 2013. I did it for 15 yrs. Anne Springs Close Greenway PO Box 1209 Fort Mill, SC 29716-1209 803-548-7252/Greenway Headquarters 803-547-4575 View website. An Olympic torch runner, an avid hiker, cyclist and swimmer, Anne Spring Close was an extraordinary person and she led an extraordinary life. Close who used her family's textile fortune to give back to the community through education and land preservation has died at age 95. Rod Serling hosted The Twight Zone from 1959-64. Colonel Springs held a strong belief that his family had an obligation to care for and support the companys workers, their families and the communities in which they lived. Springs was also a leading philanthropist founding the Springs Foundation, Inc. in 1942; a world renowned author of several books including Diary of an Unknown Aviator, a WWI classic, and the fifth ranked Flying Ace of WW I. The Spring Mills Company was started in Fort Mill in 1887. . Anne Springs Close, a noted conservationist, philanthropist and the last living person to have flown across the Atlantic aboard the German airship Hindenburg, died on Friday, August 20th Fort Mill, SC, in her home of 72 years, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The Anne Springs Close Greenway is maintained by the Leroy Springs Company, founded in 1938. Her familys construction business built two of New York Citys famous landmarks, the Flatiron building and the Chrysler building. She loved climbing mountains the most. We signed all the legal papers by candlelight, because it was three weeks after [Hurricane] Hugo and we didnt have electricity. This story was originally published August 26, 2021, 6:30 AM. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. We celebrate you. Anne Springs Close Net Worth | Anne Springs Close Greenway | Anne Springs Close Cause Of Death: Obituary. "That was insane. Washington, when she was 88. He had a medical department and recreation programs in every town. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. . Her family's construction business built two of New York City's famous landmarks, the Flatiron building and the Chrysler building. During this brief engagement of a few months, she invited me to eat the noon meal on a few occasions (which we shared in the covered pool area next to the homestead, just across from the tennis court). Bill eventually took over the family business, which now included not only the mills but also a bank, railroad, newspaper and insurance company. Service programs she carried out for the school district included things such as backpack programs, summer reading programs, and loans for students. Leroy Springs & Company operates four public golf courses in Lancaster, SC; Chester, SC; and two in Fort Mill, S.C. Two community centers and one recreation complex are operated in Lancaster, Chester, and Fort Mill, SC. Her soul lives in heaven with her Savior and the many loved ones who have made the journey before her. Polarized politicians. Tom T Hall Obituary Death: Tom T Hall Songs | Tom T HallCause Of Death, Jacqueline Vance Obituary Death: Jacqueline VanceCause Of Death. In 1995, Close created a greenway that is perhaps her most famous work. He had a medical department and recreation programs in every town. You will surely be, Will sorry to read about the passing of your Mom My condolence to you and your family. They lived in Port Chester, New York until 1947. I saved one too many trees," Close said. Of Closesmany accomplishments, the creation and preservation ofFort MillsAnne Springs Close Greenway, of which Domtar is a corporate sponsor,is closest to her heart. The area offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, kayaking, camping, horseback riding, festivals, and more. "My friend said, 'Just pick one,' Mrs. Close recalled in an interview, "So I said, 'I'll take him'." Required fields are marked *. All Rights Reserved. Its a yes: Clover teen shakes off nerves to earn American Idol golden ticket, Murdaugh verdict sends a Lowcountry message: No one is above the law | Opinion, Mail carrier cant believe his eyes after seeing NC lottery win. She left aside 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) for development. You have funeral questions, we have answers. Date of Birth: Sep 2, 1964 (58 years old) Place of Birth: Beirut. Anne was pregnant with Springs's seventh grandchild, for whom Springs had provided in his will as well as in the separate trust he executed. Out in the bush, its just magical, she said. We enjoyed all the tales but especially the lifelong memories of Ms. Close. . Mrs. Close was diagnosed with macular degeneration when she was 55, but was able to continue to drive until age 81.